Los Angeles County lifeguards and three local surfers were recognized for acts of ocean heroism during the past year at the annual Lifeguard Medal of Valor dinner, sponsored by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce. Australia's Victoria Lifeguard Team attended the dinner.…

Los Angeles County lifeguards and three local surfers were recognized for acts of ocean heroism during the past year at the annual Lifeguard Medal of Valor dinner, sponsored by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce. Australia's Victoria Lifeguard Team attended the dinner.…

In May of 1964, then-Mira Costa High School senior Dave Mulgrew and a few friends woke up at the crack of dawn to present the school with the ultimate senior prank: stacking every trash bin they could find on campus to form a massive pyramid. Much to their disappointment, the janitorial crew cleaned everything up before other students arrived that morning.

An acknowledgement from his classmates came half a century late, but it certainly was better than never.

“It was certainly a tribute to our class and certainly a good prank,” Bill McCaverty said to his classmates. “It’s a further indication that Dave Mulgrew is truly the king of class of 1964 and we want to represent him with his crown.”

Dave Mulgrew accepts his crown of honor from his class 50 years after his senior prank gone awry.

With that, amid cheers and whistles, Mulgrew accepted a gold plastic crown, anchored by a pyramid of tin cans to memorialize the prank.

On Saturday, Aug. 16, Mira Costa High School’s Class of 1964 held its biggest gathering to date celebrating 50 years at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach. About 215 people, hailing from 19 states, attended the casual beach soiree, which included a taco bar, photo booth. Attendees wore name tags with their senior year portraits. One attendee flew in from Hong Kong.

The 50-year reunion was held at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach. Photos by Esther Kang

“Since we all grew up here at the beach, we’re having a beach party,” said Mulgrew, who organized the event with nine other committee members. “It’s just been a real treat seeing all these people.”

Hermosa Beach’s Mayor Pro Tem Pete Tucker was also in attendance.

“Everybody goes, you’re what? The mayor?” said Tucker, who is contemplating running for his fourth term this November. “I wasn’t really involved in government in school … I never dreamt that I would be doing this.”

“It’s kind of mind boggling — it’s surreal,” Marie Case said. “It’s sort of like we’re right back in high school, like a time warp. Sometimes you have to get real close to recognize them — it’s kind of tricky at first. And then others look just like they always looked.”